Published: 4 March 2021

Publications

Green breast milk – related to propofol?

Published: 4 March 2021
Prescriber Update 42(1): 8
March 2021

Propofol is an anaesthetic agent used for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia in adults and children.¹ It has been reported that propofol may discolour urine.¹ Here we note a report of propofol and breast milk discolouration.

In August 2020, the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) received a report of a 29-year-old patient who had received propofol as an anaesthetic agent and whose expressed breast milk appeared green post-surgery (CARM ID 138010).

Internationally, there are other case reports of green breast milk following administration of propofol.^2–4

The reason for the discolouration is unclear. Healthcare professionals are reminded to check the New Zealand data sheet for information on breastfeeding following administration of propofol. (Search for a data sheet.)

References

1. New Zealand Formulary. 2020. New Zealand Formulary v103: Propofol 1 January 2021. URL: nzf.org.nz/nzf_6905 (accessed 19 January 2021).
2. Birkholz T, Eckardt G, Renner S, et al. 2009. Green breast milk after propofol administration. Anesthesiology 111: 1168–9. URL: pubs.asahq.org/anesthesiology/article/111/5/1168/9709/Green-Breast-Milk-after-Propofol-Administration (accessed 21 January 2021).
3. Rainone A, Delucilla L, Elofer S, et al. 2018. Propofol-induced green breast milk: A case report. Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 71(6): 389–91. URL: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306180/ (accessed 21 January 2021).
4. Bulut O and Ovali F. 2020. Green breast milk: A rare side effect of propofol. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 8 September 2020. URL: doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15139 (accessed 21 January 2021).